Whippet

Bred in England, the Whippet is a medium-sized sighthound built to do two very different things well. Over a coursing paddock or a lure track it is among the fastest dogs of its size anywhere, capable of short sprints around 35 miles an hour. Back home, though, it is a placid, low-key companion happy to spend most of the day curled up on the sofa.

The shape is smooth and aerodynamic: a deep chest, a tucked-up waist, long legs, and a fine coat that sits close to the skin. Adults typically stand 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder and weigh somewhere between 25 and 40 pounds. There is very little spare flesh on a Whippet, and that lean look is normal for the breed rather than a sign it isn't being fed properly.

Whippets attach strongly to their families and are sensitive to sharp handling or a raised voice. They are gentle with kids and generally easy-going around other dogs. Their chase instinct runs deep, though, so a small pet or bird darting past can set one off in an instant, which makes secure fencing and lead walks in open spaces worth the bother.

Who the breed suits

The Whippet suits people after an affectionate, undemanding companion indoors who's happy to put in a hard, fast run outdoors each day. It copes equally well in a house with a section or a flat in town, provided it gets that daily exercise and a warm, soft spot to sleep. Because the coat is thin and there's little body fat to keep the cold out, many owners fit a coat for the colder months, particularly through a Kiwi winter. Households with small caged pets, or without anywhere safe to let the dog stretch out at full pace, are less suited to the breed.

The Whippet as we know it took shape in the north of England during the 1800s. It was bred down from the Greyhound, with some input from smaller terrier-type dogs, to produce a sighthound that could still hunt rabbits and race but cost far less to keep and feed than a full-sized Greyhound.

The breed became strongly associated with mining and mill towns, where owners raced their dogs down straight tracks for prize money, a pursuit that earned the Whippet its old nickname, the poor man's racehorse. Rag racing, where dogs sprinted toward an owner waving a cloth at the finish line, was a regular weekend fixture.

Formal recognition came as organised showing took hold. England's Kennel Club recognised the Whippet in 1891, and the American Kennel Club followed in 1888. Over time, breeding to a set standard settled the size, outline and temperament seen in the breed today.

Through the twentieth century the Whippet moved well beyond its industrial roots to become a popular show dog, household companion, and competitor in lure coursing and amateur racing, a following it still holds across Europe and North America. In New Zealand the breed is registered through Dogs New Zealand (formerly the NZKC), the country's national body for pedigree dogs.

A Whippet looks very much like a Greyhound scaled down, built purely for speed and balance. The outline runs in smooth curves from nose to tail: a long head, an arched neck flowing into the back, a deep chest reaching down to the elbow, a defined waist, and a strongly arched loin. The legs are long and lean, the feet neat and well cushioned. Left to its own devices, a Whippet usually curls itself into a tight ball to rest.

The coat is short, fine and close-lying, with almost no insulating undercoat. It's normal to see the skin outline over the ribs and hips; that is correct for the breed, not a fault.

Coat and colour

The breed standard puts no limit on colour, so Whippets turn up in a wide range of solids and combinations. Fawn, cream, blue-grey, black, red and brindle are all common, often broken up with white on the chest, feet or face. The short coat asks for very little grooming but offers almost no protection against cold or rough ground, so many owners fit a coat through winter and give the thin skin a once-over for scrapes after a hard play session.

Indoors, a Whippet is quiet and undemanding, the sort of dog that will happily sleep away most of the day on the couch. It forms close attachments to its household and likes to stay near its people, often leaning or curling up against them given half a chance. The breed is sensitive, and shouting or a heavy-handed correction tends to knock its confidence rather than teach anything useful.

Whippets are patient and affectionate with family members, including children, though very young kids should be watched, since the dog is slight enough to be knocked about or hurt during rough play. Around strangers, most are reserved to start with rather than nervous, and warm up quickly once introduced. They aren't natural watchdogs and rarely bark much.

The breed generally gets on well with other dogs and settles happily into multi-dog households. The real thing to watch for is the sighthound's chase drive: a cat, rabbit or small dog bolting past can set a Whippet off after it in a split second, so a solid recall, secure fencing and lead walks in open areas all matter.

Day-to-day care of a Whippet is fairly simple. The coat looks after itself, but the breed's slight build and chase instinct set the real priorities: regular fast running, protection from the cold, and a warm, padded spot to sleep.

Grooming

• Brush weekly with a soft brush or grooming mitt to lift out loose hair
• Bathe only when needed, as the coat carries little odour
• Trim nails every two to three weeks, since overlong nails throw off the gait
• Brush teeth several times a week
• Check the thin skin for cuts or scrapes after rough play

Exercise

• Give one to two walks a day, plus the chance to sprint flat out
• Use a securely fenced area or a long line for any off-lead running
• Favour short, intense bursts of speed over long, slow distance work
• Try lure coursing or a flirt pole to satisfy the chase instinct
• Skip hard exercise in extreme heat or on icy ground

Environment

Whippets suit houses and flats about equally well, since they're quiet and settled indoors. They feel the cold fast and go looking for warm spots, so a soft bed clear of draughts and a coat for winter both help, especially given New Zealand's cool temperate climate. A secure section or a safe nearby spot to run flat out is worth far more than a large house.

A complete, balanced dog food suited to the Whippet's life stage and activity level works well for the breed. Whippets are naturally lean, so visible ribs and a clear waist are normal and not a cue to add more food. A dog doing regular racing or coursing will need more fuel than one that mostly naps on the couch. Split the daily amount across two meals and adjust by how the dog looks and feels rather than by strictly following the bag.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories so the dog stays lean. Most Whippets on a complete diet need no added supplements. Fresh water should always be available, especially around hard exercise. Deep-chested breeds can be prone to bloat, so avoid a heavy meal right before or after strenuous exercise and let the dog settle either side of activity.

The Whippet is one of the sturdier purebred dogs and usually lives 12 to 15 years. It carries fewer inherited problems than many breeds of similar size, though a handful of issues are worth knowing about. The lean build and thin coat also mean the breed feels the cold more than most and bruises or cuts more easily than a heavier dog.

Preventive care

• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Book annual vet check-ups, including heart and eye checks
• Keep on top of dental hygiene with regular brushing
• Keep the dog lean to protect the joints and heart
• Let any vet know about the breed's sensitivity to anaesthesia before a procedure

Whippets are bright and keen to please, but they're also sensitive and can switch off during repetitive drills. They pick things up fast when sessions are short, upbeat and varied. Harsh corrections do more harm than good, damaging the bond and shutting the dog down rather than improving anything. Recall is the hardest skill to nail, because once a Whippet is in full flight, chase instinct can override whatever it has learned. Because of this, plenty of owners keep their Whippet on lead in unfenced areas no matter how solid the recall seems at home.

Basics

1. Start socialising early with people, dogs and everyday sights and sounds
2. Teach name recognition and a reliable sit before moving on
3. Build recall inside a fenced area first, and reward every return generously
4. Add a solid stay and leave it to help manage the chase drive
5. Practise calm lead walking, since the breed pulls hard toward movement
6. Keep sessions short and finish on a win

Whippets reach sexual maturity within the same general window as other medium-sized dogs, and females typically have their first season between six and twelve months old. Responsible breeders wait until a dog is physically and mentally mature, usually around two years old, and health-screen both parents for heart and eye conditions before mating. Pregnancy runs about 63 days from conception, and litters average four to eight puppies, though smaller and larger litters both happen.

Puppies arrive helpless, eyes closed, and rely entirely on the dam for the first few weeks. Weaning starts around three to four weeks, and the socialisation that follows in this early window does a lot to shape the calm, confident adult temperament the breed is known for. Because Whippets are lean and fine-boned, whelping and rearing pups should happen somewhere warm and free of draughts. Anyone bringing in a dog or new bloodlines from overseas also needs to factor in New Zealand's strict biosecurity rules and quarantine requirements for imported animals. Breeding decisions are best left to experienced breeders who can provide veterinary support and take responsibility for where the puppies end up.

Whippet registration and microchip registration in New Zealand

Keeping a Whippet findable is mostly paperwork: a profile carrying your phone number, a photo, and the dog's details, sitting where a scan can reach it. Registering your dog with United Pet Club sets that up free, and the record never lapses or bills you.

A scanned chip is only ever as useful as its record. Pop your Whippet's fifteen digit number into a free United Pet Club account and the record does the rest: free updates after every move, every brand accepted, searchable day and night. Microchip registration first, account alongside.